Tennessee Titans (1-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0)
Sunday, September 23rd, 2018 | 1:00pm. EDT/Noon CDT
Jacksonville, FL | TIAA Bank Field | TV: CBS
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Titans (1-1) play their second consecutive divisional game this week, traveling to face the defending AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0). Kickoff at TIAA Bank Field (capacity 67,814) is scheduled for 1:00pm EDT/noon CDT on Sunday, September 23rd, 2018.
The Titans took both of their matchups with the Jaguars last season, winning 37-16 in Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field and 15-10 in Week 17 at Nissan Stadium. Prior to then, the Titans and Jaguars split the annual series every year from 2009–2016.
The game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes and analyst Adam Archuleta will call the action.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will carry the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Dave McGinnis, sideline reporter Amie Wells and gameday hosts Rhett Bryan and Jonathan Hutton.
Tennessee Titans Go for Second Consecutive Win
The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to win their second consecutive divisional game and get even with the Jaguars in the standings. Last week they hosted Houston and edged the Texans by a final score of 20-17. Ryan Succop’s 31-yard field goal with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter provided the difference.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota was active but did not play against the Texans due to an elbow injury. Blaine Gabbert started in his place and completed 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Taywan Taylor. Gabbert, a first-round draft pick by the Jaguars in 2011, recorded a passer rating of 97.3 and his sixth career game-winning drive.
The Titans’ other touchdown came rather unconventionally. In the first quarter with the Titans in punt formation, safety Kevin Byard completed a pass to rookie defensive back Dane Cruikshank, who raced to the end zone for a 66-yard score.
Defensively, the Titans sacked Deshaun Watson four times, including two sacks by defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, who registered his ninth career multi-sack game.
Additionally, second-year cornerback Adoree’ Jackson logged his first career interception.
About the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are off to a 2-0 start to begin the season after earning a 10-6 record and a division championship in 2017 under head coach Doug Marrone. In his first full season as the team’s head coach—he served as the interim head coach for two games in 2016—Marrone led Jacksonville to its first division title since 1999 and its first playoff appearance since 2007.
The 2017 Jaguars defense ranked second in the NFL, allowing only 286.1 yards per game, while their passing defense led the league (169.9 yards per game).
Six Jaguars defenders earned Pro Bowl honors: defensive tackle Malik Jackson, linebacker Telvin Smith, cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey, and defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars offense is directed by fifth-year veteran quarterback Blake Bortles. Bortles’ 2017 statistics included 3,687 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, marking his third consecutive season with more than 20 touchdowns and 3,500 passing yards.
Last week, the Jaguars hosted the New England Patriots and won 31-20. Bortles passed for 377 yards and four touchdowns.
